Artificial turf cleaner

ABSTRACT

A portable device for cleaning artificial turf which utilizes a cleaning head having a suction nozzle and spray nozzles which is pulled behind a motorized utility vehicle. A truck is parked adjacent the edge of the field upon which the artificial turf is located and contains a vacuum pump, water heater, pressure booster chemical injection systems, and an electrical system which supplies the utility vehicle with hot cleaning medium and suction for removing the spent cleaning solution through the nozzle pulled thereby. A swivel is provided adjacent the cleaning head for supporting a large suction hose above the cleaning head so that the utility vehicle can be readily driven about the field.

United States Patent [191 Jones Sept. 2, 1975 ARTIFICIAL TURF CLEANER[76] Inventor: Judson 0. Jones, 17 Inglewood Dr.,

Primary -ExaminerHarvey C. l-lornsby Assistant Examiner-C. K. MooreAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Bailey & Dority [5 7 ABSTRACT A portable devicefor cleaning artificial turf which utilizes a cleaning head having asuction nozzle and spray nozzles which is pulled behind a motorizedutility vehicle. truck is parked adjacent the edge of the field uponwhich the artificial turf is located and contains a vacuum pump, waterheater, pressure booster chemical injection systems, and an electricalsystem which supplies the utility vehicle with hot cleaning medium andsuction for removing the spent cleaning solution through the nozzlepulled thereby. A swivel is provided adjacent the cleaning head forsupporting a large suction hose above the cleaning head so that theutility vehicle can be readily driven about the field.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 2 I975 SHEET 1 [1F 3 PATENTEDSEP 75 SHKET 2 BF 3 PATENTED EP 21975 3,902,219

sum 3 OF 3 POWER GE NERATOR INJECTKON PUMP ARTIFICIAL TURF CLEANER Thisinvention relates to a cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to anapparatus designed for cleaning large fields having artificial turfthereon.

In recent years artificial turf on football fields, tracks, etc., hasbecome very popular due to the low maintenance and uniformity. One ofthe problems encountered with such field, particularly in areas of highpollution, is that foreign matter, such as oily fallout, soot, brokenglass, and other hazardous materials collect on the artificial turf. Theoily fallout and soot make the artifical turf slippery creatinghazardous conditions for athletes utilizing the field, The glass andother matter collecting on the field, of course, would also be injuriousto the athletes.

Furthermore, as the foreign matter collects on the field, bacteria andthe like tend to increase, possibly infecting skinned elbows and kneesof the athletes.

Another problem that arises with the use of such artificial turf fieldsis that after heavy rains water will tend to collect in puddleshindering the ability of the athletes running thereon.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide a portable device for cleaning large areas having artificialturf and the like thereon.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide amotorized cleaning apparatus which is capable of traversing a largefield having artificial turf thereon with a minimum of interference fromwater and suction hoses accompanying such.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide amotorized cleaning device with a cleaning head for cleaning outdoorfields having artificial turf thereon, which encloses the hot cleaningmedium being sprayed on the turf for minimizing the temperature droptherein.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparentfrom a reading of the following detailed description and appended claimstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a supporting vehicle for theportable cleaning device,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view taken .from the other side of thesupporting vehicle shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the motorized utilitycleaning vehicle,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view, partially in section,illustrating a cleaning head utilized with the motorized utilityvehicle,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view taken from the bottom illustrating acleaning head constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating the location of the variouscomponents'on the service truck and the flow of air and cleaning mediumtherethrough.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, there is illustrated aportable device for cleaning artificial turf on athletic fields and thelike, utilizing a cleaning medium. The device includes a tank A with avacuum hose having one end coupled to and communicating with the tank A.A vacuum pump B communicates with the tank A causing a large volume ofair to be drawn through the hose. A motorized utility vehicle C carriesthe other end of the vacuum hose for traversing the athletic field. Anelongated transverse cleaning head D is carried by the motorized vehicleC with a suction nozzle forming a part thereof. The suction nozzlecommunicates with the other end of the vacuum hose circulating air inlarge volume through the nozzle and the tank A. A sprayer means E iscarried adjacent the suction nozzle for spraying hot cleaning medium onthe turf ahead of the suction nozzle as the head is passed across theturf. A housing encompasses the sprayer means E and has an elongatedopening closely adjacent the turf for encasing the hot cleaning mediumas the cleaning medium is sprayed on the turf for minimizing thetemperature lost during the cleaning operation. A swivel support F iscarried by the motorized vehicle C for supporting the vacuum hose inorder to permit the vehicle to turn under the hose as such traverses thefield. A means G communicates with the base portion of the tank forconveying away the liquid and any foreign matter removed from the turf.

The tank A and vacuum pump B are carried on the support vehicle,generally designated by the reference character 10, which has a coveredflat bed body 11 carried on the rear thereof. Normally, the supportvehicle 10 is driven on the athletic field and parked adjacent thecentral side line. The motorized vehicle C then begins to cleanoutwardly therefrom. It has been found in some instances that it is notdesirable to drive the heavy motorized vehicle onto the artificial turfsince it may pack down some of the cushioning used thereunder.

The vacuum tank A is an upright tank provided by receiving the spentcleaning solution collected from the field being cleaned. Communicatingwith the top of the vacuum tank B is a vacuum hose 12, which extends tothe input of the vacuum pump B. The vacuum pump 8 is a positivedisplacement pump which is driven by a power take-off 13 coupled to thedrive shaft 14 of the support vehicle, Therefore, the engine of thesupport vehicle 10 is used for driving the vacuum pump B. The exhaustfrom the vacuum pump B is vented out below the truck through a hose 14a.The pump G is connected to the bottom of tank A by conduit 12a forremoving the collected fluid therefrom.

Communicating with the bottom of the tank A is an elongated vacuum hose15 which extends to the cleaning head D carried by the motorized vehicleC. This vacuum hose 15, in one particular instance is 200 feet long sothat when the support vehicle is parked adjacent the central side linesof a normal football field the motorized vehicle can clean outwardlytherefrom to cover substantially all of the artificial turf. The supportvehicle 10 as shown in FIG. 6, is self contained and includes a gasolineoperated power generator 16 which generates electric power for operatingvarious pumps in the system. It is also provided with tanks 17 ofpropane gas which is fed by a tube 18 to a gasoline operated heater 19which heats the water used in cleaning the field. The heater 19, asshown, is vented through the top 20 of the truck by means of a chimney21.

Cold water is supplied to line 22 shown in FIG. 6 from any suitablesource on the field being cleaned and is fed through an electricallyoperated pressure booster pump 23 which builds the pressure of the waterto approximately 200 pounds per square inch. This pressurized water isfed through piping 24 to the heater 19 where it is heated toapproximately Fahrenheit. The water is fed from the heater by piping 25through a flow control switch 26, a chemical injection pump 27, throughhose 28 to the cleaning head D carried on the motorized vehicle C.

The chemical injection pump 27 is provided for injecting any Suitableconventional chemical into the stream of pressurized water flowingthrough the hose 28. A supply of chemical, if in the form of powder, ismixed with water in tank 29a by a motorized blender 3011. Electric powerfor operating the blender 30a, the pressure boosting pump 23, theinjection pump 27, the exhaust pump G, and the flow control switch 26'is provided by the power generator 16.

The motorized vehicle C may be any suitable conventional utilityvehicle, such as generally used for mowing large areas, or it may be aconventional general purpose tractor that has a hitch connectionsuitable for pulling the cleaning head D. The cleaning head D is carriedby a frame member which includes a pair of spaced supporting framemembers 29 and 30, respectively, which are joined by a cross-member 31that, in turn, has welded thereto a tongue 32. An axle 33 is journalledon the frame members 29 and 30 and has wheels 34 carried thereon fortransporting the cleaning head. The inner end of the supporting members29 and 30 is welded to a back plate 35 of the suction nozzle. Upwardlyextending braces 36a are also provided between the members 29 and 30 andthe back plate 35 of the suction nozzle. Spaced from the back plate 35so as to define a nozzle 36 is a front plate 37. The back and frontplates 35 and 37 are triangular in shape and extend upwardly fromadjacent the elongated slotted nozzle provided therebetween adjacent thebottom. The plates 35 and 37 are joined by side walls 38 to provide aclosure. Welded adjacent the top of the back plate 35 is a pipe 39 towhich a flexible 6 inch vacuum hose 40 is connected. The other end ofthe flexible .vacuum hose 40 is coupled to a lower end of a swivelsupport F.

The sprayer means E includes an elongated'tubular member 41 which hasspray nozzles 42 spaced therein. Cleaning medium is supplied to theelongated tubular member 41 and the nozzles 42 by piping 43 whichcommunicates with the tubular member. The other end of the piping 43 isconnected to a valve 44 which can be selectively opened and closed tosupply the cleaning medium to the nozzles 42. The valve 44 has a controlplunger 45 which is activated by an elongated arm 46 which has its lowerend attached by means of a spring 47 to a cable 48 which is, in turn,connected to a lever 49. By manipulating the lever 49 the control valve44 can be selectively opened and closed. As can be seen in FIGS. 4, 5and 6, the plurality of nozzles 42 are carried within an enclosure 50which has an elongated opening 51 adjacent the bottom thereof forallowing the sprayed cleaning medium to be sprayed directly ahead of thesuction nozzle 36. It is desired to enclose the sprayed cleaning mediumwithin the housing 50 until such is closely adjacent the artificial turfbeing cleaned so as to minimize the temperature drop between the spraynozzles 42 and the artificial turf. Generally, the hotter the cleaningsolution the better the cleaning action. Normally, the cleaning mediumis heated to approximately 180 by the hot water heater 19 carried on thesupport vehicle 10.

The means for selectively raising and lower the cleaning head D from acleaning position to a transporting position includes a swivel joint 52which is pivotally connected by means of a bolt 53 to the tongue 32 ofthe frame upon which the cleaning head D is supported. A transverse pin54 is provided between bifurcated ends of the swivel 52 for coupling thetongue 32 to an elongated bartype member 55 carried on the motorizedvehicle. A pin 56, which is supported on the frame of the motorizedvehicle 10, extends through the bar-type member 55 for allowing such tobe pivoted from the full line position shown in FIG. 4 to the phantomline position. A conventional linkage mechanism including control handle57, linkage members 58, dog leg 59, rod 60, arms 61, 62 and 62a areprovided for raising and lowering the elongated member 55 responsive tomoving the handle 57 from the full line position to the phantom lineposition. Such raises and lowers the tongue 32 so as to permit the lowerend of the cleaning head to either rest on the artificial turf beingcleaned or be raised off of the artificial turf to a transportingposition. It is noted that the frame members 29 and 30 pivot about theaxle 33 when the cleaning head is raised and lowered. It is desirablethat the cleaning head during the cleaning operation bear down heavilyon the artificial turf. An elongated iron weight 63 is carried on thefront plate 37 of the cleaning head for increasing the weight impartedto the artificial turf by the cleaning head.

In order to permit the motorized vehicle to traverse the field beingcleaned without interferring with the vacuum hose 15 or the water hose28, the swivel support F is provided. The uppper end of the swivelsupport F includes an elbow 64 which is journalled in a lower elbow 65to which the vacuum hose 40 is coupled. Extending out of the upper elbow64 is a metallic tubular member 66 to which the vacuum hose 15 iscoupled. Normally, in operation the water hose 28 is attached to thetubular metallic hose 66 so that the vacuum hose and the water hose passover the cleaning head as the motorized vehicle is turned around.

The flow switch 26 coupled to the output of the heater 19 cuts thepressure boosting pump 23 and the injection pump 27 off responsive toclosing the valve 44. I

Normally, the turf cleaner is utilized in cleaning fields. However, itis understood that it can also used for removing water from playingfields.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, andit is to be understood that changes andvariations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable device for cleaning an artificial turf athletic field andremoving a liquid therefrom, having a tank positionable at a marginalportion of said field comprising: a vacuum hose having one end coupledto and communicating with said tank, a vacuum pump communicating with anupper portion of said tank for rapidly evacuating air from said tankcausing a large volume of air to be drawn through said hose, a motorizedutility vehicle carrying the other end of said vacuum hose fortraversing said athletic field, an elongated transverse cleaning headcarried by said motorized vehicle, a suction nozzle carried by saidcleaning head and communicating with the other end of said vacuum hose,a swivel support carried by said motorized vehicle carrying said vacuumhose permitting the vehicle to turn for changing direction under thehose for traversing said athletic field, and means communicating with abase portion of said tank for conveying away the liquid and any foreignmatter removed from the turf.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 including, a cleaning mediumsource, a sprayer means carried adjacent said cleaning head andconnected to said source for spraying said cleaning medium on said turfahead of said suction nozzle as the head is passed across the turf.

3. A portable device for cleaning an artificial turf athletic field witha liquid cleaning medium applied thereto comprising: a support vehicle,a tank carried by said support vehicle, a vacuum hose having one endcoupled to and communicating with said tank, a vacuum pump communicatingwith said tank for rapidly evacuating air from said tank causing a largevolume of air to be drawn through said hose, a motorized utility vehiclecarrying the other end of said vacuum hose for traversing said athleticfield, an elongated transverse cleaning head carried by said cleaninghead and communicating with the other end of said vacuum hosecirculating air in large volume through the nozzle and the tank, aswivel support carried by said motorized vehicle carrying said vacuumhose permitting the vehicle to turn for changing direction with aminimum of interference from the hose for traversing said athleticfield, a pressurized source of hot water, a source of cleaning agent,means for mixing said cleaning agent with said hot water producing apressurized cleaning medium, means for conveying said cleaning medium toa sprayer means carried adjacent said cleaning head for spraying saidcleaning medium on said turf ahead of said suction nozzle as said headis passed across the turf, and means communicating with a base portionof said tank for conveying away the used cleaning medium and foreignmatter removed from the turf.

1. A portable device for cleaning an artificial turf athletic field andremoving a liquid therefrom, having a tank positionable at a marginalportion of said field comprising: a vacuum hose having one end coupledto and communicating with said tank, a vacuum pump communicating with anupper portion of said tank for rapidly evacuating air from said tankcausing a large volume of air to be drawn through said hose, a motorizedutility vehicle carrying the other end of said vacuum hose fortraversing said athletic field, an elongated transverse cleaning headcarried by said motorized vehicle, a suction nozzle carried by saidcleaning head and communicating with the other end of said vacuum hose,a swivel support carried by said motorized vehicle carrying said vacuumhose permitting the vehicle to turn for changing direction under thehose for traversing said athletic field, and means communicating with abase portion of said tank for conveying away the liquid and any foreignmatter removed from the turf.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1including, a cleaning medium source, a sprayer means carried adjacentsaid cleaning head and connected to said source for spraying saidcleaning medium on said turf ahead of said suction nozzle as the head ispassed across the turf.
 3. A portable device for cleaning an artificialturf athletic field with a liquid cleaning medium applied theretocomprising: a support vehicle, a tank carried by said support vehicle, avacuum hose having one end coupled to and communicating with said tank,a vacuum pump communicating with said tank for rapidly evacuating airfrom said tank causing a large volume of air to be drawn through saidhose, a motorized utility vehicle carrying the other end of said vacuumhose for Traversing said athletic field, an elongated transversecleaning head carried by said cleaning head and communicating with theother end of said vacuum hose circulating air in large volume throughthe nozzle and the tank, a swivel support carried by said motorizedvehicle carrying said vacuum hose permitting the vehicle to turn forchanging direction with a minimum of interference from the hose fortraversing said athletic field, a pressurized source of hot water, asource of cleaning agent, means for mixing said cleaning agent with saidhot water producing a pressurized cleaning medium, means for conveyingsaid cleaning medium to a sprayer means carried adjacent said cleaninghead for spraying said cleaning medium on said turf ahead of saidsuction nozzle as said head is passed across the turf, and meanscommunicating with a base portion of said tank for conveying away theused cleaning medium and foreign matter removed from the turf.